In high year of homicides, 4 remain unsolved in Oneida Co.

It's been years since Oneida County has experienced the level of violent killings that occurred this past yearThere were least 13 shooting, stabbing or beating deaths, including several murder-suicides – much higher than the two homicides reported in Oneida County last year.

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Uticaod

Posted Dec. 29, 2013 at 5:00 AM

Posted Dec. 29, 2013 at 5:00 AM

LIST OF HOMICIDES

February 6: Jerry McNair, 37, kills himself after repeatedly shooting girlfriend Petra Gonzalez, 36, at 815 McVean St. in West Utica, police say.

March 8: In another murder-s...

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LIST OF HOMICIDES

February 6: Jerry McNair, 37, kills himself after repeatedly shooting girlfriend Petra Gonzalez, 36, at 815 McVean St. in West Utica, police say.March 8: In another murder-suicide, Somnang Porm, 45, twice shoots his estranged wife Moeun Porm, 45, before then shooting himself inside the woman's home at 322 South St. in Utica, police say.March 25: Dennis Mosley, 28, and Kelly Marshall, 31, fatally stab Allen Minor, 47, inside the Olbiston Apartments in Utica during a drug robbery, police say. Mosley undergoing psychiatric treatment, while Marshall was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for murder.March 26: Derrick "Brooklyn" Carter, 24, currently charged with murder in the shooting death of Charles DiGristine Jr., 50, inside 115 Lawrence St. in Rome.March 28: Jason "Klutch" Oates, 32, of Alabama, is fatally shot in parking lot behind Rome YMCA – currently unsolved.May 29: After 9-month-old Levon Wameling dies from untreated head injury inside 748 Jay St. in East Utica, father Jevon Wameling, 27, sinks baby's body in Mohawk River. Wameling later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and faces 7 ½ to 15 years in prison.June 4: Aaron Welch, 26, of Schenectady, fatally stabs ex-girlfriend Stephanie Morrison, 22, inside 319 Myrtle St. in Rome, and also kills her friend, Shawn Kessler, 31, as he attempted to rescue her. Welch faces 40 years to life in prison for both murders.June 11: Larry Utter, 49, twice shoots estranged wife, Stacey Utter, 45, inside their 9220 Trestle Road home in Forestport, claiming it was an accident. Utter later pleaded guilty to murder and faces 24 years to life in prison.July 24: John C. Spratt, 44, gunned down inside stairwell alongside Mahanna's Market on 1700 block of Whitesboro St. in West Utica – currently unsolved.Nov. 10: Odum Shealey Jr., 21, fatally shot near corner of Eagle Street and Conkling Avenue in Utica – currently unsolved.Nov. 18: One-year-old Brayden Gulbin dies from apparently having head "slammed" against hard object inside 531 Doe Road in Bridgewater, and father Ian Gulbin, 31, is charged with first-degree manslaughter two days later.Dec. 26: Andrew Mateo, 25, of Utica, was shot and killed after an argument broke out on Dickinson Street. Mateo then drove south on Oneida Street, eventually hitting a building at the intersection of Oneida Street and the Memorial Parkway in Utica. – currently unsolved.

It's been years since Oneida County has experienced the level of violent killings that occurred this past year.

There were least 13 shooting, stabbing or beating deaths, including several murder-suicides – much higher than the two homicides reported county-wide last year, according to state statistics.

Of those homicides, four are currently left unsolved as this year draws to a close. Here are some of the challenges police face in those cases:

Jason "Klutch" Oates – killed March 28 in Rome.

In a week that saw three back-to-back homicides total in Utica and Rome, Oates' shooting death behind the Rome YMCA has proven to be the hardest to pin down.

Witnesses saw someone wearing a dark-hooded sweatshirt as he fled the dark parking lot off Stevens Street, police said. But beyond that, police believe there are people who know more than they're willing to tell authorities.

Rome police have tried to look for clues in the life that 32-year-old Oates lived – not an easy task, police say, since the victim was originally from Alabama and wasn't familiar with many local residents.

As police have gathered information on Oates' background, both before and after he came to Rome, they've learned that he was aspiring to pursue a career in rap music. Why he was killed, however, is less clear.

"There are several possibilities, but at this point we're not set on one specific reason," Rome police Detective Commander Timothy Bates said.

John C. Spratt – killed July 24 in Utica.

When Spratt, 44, was gunned down in a stairwell alongside Mahanna's Market on Whitesboro Street, it was about 9:45 p.m. and there weren't many witnesses to what happened.

But what made matters worse, Utica police said, was when several onlookers began chucking glass beer bottles at the responding officers. Out of concern for their safety, the investigators' efforts were cut short that night.

"When we conduct our analysis of the evidence, we like to take as much time as we need to double check everything and scour the neighborhood," Utica police Sgt. Steven Hauck said. "Unfortunately, due to the actions of some people that night, that aspect had to be sped up and I can't help but think we would have spent more time there that night than we did."

Investigators went back the next day and made up for lost time, Hauck said. But, police will never know if things would have turned out differently if those first crucial hours after Spratt's homicide hadn't been compromised.

Odum Shealey Jr. – killed Nov. 10 in Utica.

Shealey, 21, was fatally shot near the corner of Eagle Street and Conkling Avenue shortly after 10:30 p.m., a time when few people would have seen the killing.

Page 2 of 2 - Police have released few details on Shealey's death – including what the motive might have been, whether police have any suspects and even the number of times the young man was shot.

Police typically are tight-lipped about the facts of investigations in order to narrow down the people who actually know something, instead of those who only repeat what they hear in the news. But in Shealey's case, as well as Spratt's, Hauck said getting people to come forward with information is proving to be an obstacle.

"I think that there are legitimate concerns on some people's parts when it comes to cooperating with police for fear of retaliation from an outside entity, like the suspect or the suspect's family," Hauck said. "But in this case, I can't really speculate about the reasons for not coming forward."

Andrew Mateo — killed Dec. 26 in Utica.

In the city's most recent homicide, Mateo, 25, of Utica, was killed after an argument on Dickinson Street. He was in the driver's seat of a car and the shooter was outside the car. Following the shooting, Mateo then drove south on Oneida Street before losing consciousness and striking a business building.

Anyone with information about either Shealey's, Mateo's or Spratt's homicide can call Utica police at 223-3510. Anyone with information on Oates' homicide can call Rome police at 339-7715.